Jed Ward produced the only penalty shoot-out save to help Forest Green Rovers advance in the FA Trophy following a 1-1 draw at Braintree Town.

Steve Cotterill named just one change from his side that drew with FC Halifax Town seeing Harry Cardwell replace Christian Doidge.

Rovers started the game on the front foot and threatened the Iron goal seven minutes when Jamie Robson followed up a Harvey Bunker blocked effort, but his shot trickled past the post.

Charlie McCann lined up next to try his luck when Kyle McAllister teed him up on the edge of the area but saw his strike fly over the bar on 19 minutes.

But it was the Iron who broke the deadlock on 33 minutes when Kyrell Lisbie’s acrobatic effort nestled in the bottom corner sending our hosts into the break ahead.

Rovers reaction in the second period was strong and went close to equalising on the hour mark but McAllister divert a low Tom Knowles cross goalward.

Two minutes later, Knowles found himself goal bound but his powerfully struck effort was well saved by the Iron goalkeeper, Luca Colovan.

That Rovers pressure was finally rewarded on 65 minutes when, after a well worked corner routine, found Adam May who beat Colovan from distance.

Cotterill’s side hunted down a second quickly after and came close on 70 minutes when Emmanuel Osadebe struck just wide after McAllister and danced his way through the Iron defence.

And McAllister came close to a winner on 89 minutes when Ryan Inniss’ header over the Iron defence found McAllister who bounded down on goal but flashed his effort wide sending the game to penalties.

McAllister stepped up first for Rovers picking out the bottom corner before McCann and Doidge dispatched their efforts.

The Iron aimed to make level the score at three-a-piece but were superbly denied by a flying Ward save allowing May and Cardwell to complete a perfect slate, sending Rovers into the fourth round.

Rovers are back in National League action on Saturday December 14th when we host Boston United as we kick off a run of three straight games at The New Lawn.